As of the 2010 census, a total of 160,084 civilians reside within Texas's twenty-seventh state house district.[2] Texas state representatives represent an average of 167,637 residents.[3] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 139,012 residents.[4]

Salaries

As of 2013, members of the Texas Legislature are paid $7,200/year. Legislators receive $150/day per diem which is set by the Ethics Commission.[6]

Pension

When calculating a legislators' pension, their normal salary is artificially inflated to $125,000. This goes back to 1981, when lawmakers linked their salaries to those of state judges. Since then, they raised judges' salaries while removing the caps on their own pensions, pushing the maximum benefit up to 100% of a judge's salary.

In 2011, this resulted in an average state employee pension of $17,526 annually. The maximum pension a legislator can earn is $125,000, of which Rep. Tom Craddick (R) will be the first to qualify for when he retires.
.[7]

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, the Governor must call a special election to fill the vacant seat.[8] A Governor's proclamation to a special election must be delivered to local elections authorities representing the vacant seat no later than 36 days before the scheduled election.[9]

The Secretary of State can declare a candidate duly elected in a special election if there is no opposition.[10]

Elections

2014

Elections for all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. Those candidates who did not receive 50% or more of the vote in their party primary on March 4 faced an additional May 27 primary runoff. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013. Incumbent Ron Reynolds was unopposed in the Democratic primary. David Hamilton was unopposed in the Republican primary. Reynolds defeated Hamilton in the general election.[11][12][13]

Campaign contributions

Since 2000, candidates for Texas House of Representatives District 27 have raised a total of $1,351,421. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $90,095 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.